Symkus column: Check out some movies that can bring you back to your high school daze

Ed Symkus More Content Now

Wednesday

Apr 29, 2020 at 8:11 AMApr 29, 2020 at 8:11 AM

It looks like, in the words of that old Alice Cooper song, school’s out forever. Or at least for the rest of the year. And with spring still not in the air, lots of high schoolers, as well as adults who wish things were as simple as they were in their own high school days, are spending a lot of time inside.

But there’s a way to get around this predicament. High school has been a frequent setting in movies since the 1950s, with coming-of-age stories, raucous comedies, full-out horror, and examples of social commentary among the most popular offerings.

So, I began a search through dozens of titles online, then winnowed them down to those films that I’ve seen, and finally whittled that list to a top 10. Here are my 10 personal favorites, touching onto each decade, that either bring me back or make me happy that those days are long ago. (All are available on Amazon Prime and at DeepDiscount.com.)

“Backboard Jungle” (1955) - An optimistic new teacher (Glenn Ford) shows up at an inner city school that has juvenile delinquency problems, and two students (Sidney Poitier and Vic Morrow) make him a target that might turn violent. Hot tempers and nerve-racking situations, along with some great jazz and rock ’n’ roll. Santini is played by a very young Jamie Farr.

“To Sir, With Love” (1967) - It’s Sidney Poitier again, but now he’s the teacher - an American in a tough part of London - dealing with a classroom of less-than-attentive students, and trying to figure a way to win them over. Yes, there are racial problems. Lulu, who sings the popular title song, is one of the students.

“American Graffiti” (1973) - George Lucas’ second feature (after “THX 1138”) is set in the early-’60s, but its themes about what to do with our lives still ring true. It all takes place over one day and night, and takes a look at every type of high schooler imaginable. You get early Richard Dreyfuss and Harrison Ford, and a hit-packed soundtrack.

“Carrie” (1976) - The first Stephen King book to be adapted into a film centers on a lonely high schooler (Sissy Spacek) discovering her powers of telekinesis, and eventually using them against her domineering mother (Piper Laurie) and the relentlessly cruel students at school (John Travolta among them). Warning: It’s a bloodbath of horror.

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986) - For anyone who played hooky (or wanted to), freewheeling Ferris (Matthew Broderick) shows us how it’s done: Fake being sick, get your best friend (Alan Ruck) to borrow his dad’s Ferrari, bring along your girlfriend (Mia Sara), keep avoiding the school principal (Jeffrey Jones). Also: Wait for the end credits to really end.

“Election” (1999) - It’s Matthew Broderick again, and now he, too, is a teacher. As supervisor of the student government elections, he convinces success-oriented (and possibly man-chasing) student Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) to get involved, resulting in her running for student council president, with all stops pulled out. Witty and insightful.

“Superbad” (2007) - Another one that takes place over one night. Senior year is ending, and three best pals - Seth (Jonah Hill), Evan (Michael Cera) and McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) really want to go to a party being thrown by the cool kids. But first they have to get their underage hands on some booze. Sweet and silly, with close to 200 F-bombs uttered.

“21 Jump Street” (2012) - Hello again to Jonah Hill, playing an adult cop who, along with his partner Channing Tatum, is assigned by their captain (a fuming Ice Cube) to go undercover as high school students (a bit of a comic stretch) to break up a drug ring. Great chemistry between the two very opposite characters, along with plenty of slapstick and even a bit of tenderness.

“Booksmart” (2019) - Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) are best pals with the best grades in school. But they have no friends and are treated by everyone as outsiders. They hope things will change at a last-night-of-school party, where they intend to catch up on everyone else’s fun, but come to realize that they’re not all that different, after all.Ed Symkus can be reached at esymkus@rcn.com.